Honestly, if you grew up in the 90s, you couldn't escape her. Lara Croft wasn't just a video game character; she was a legitimate cultural phenomenon who appeared on magazine covers and even in U2 concert visuals. But behind the dual pistols and the turquoise tank top, the history of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is a wild mix of accidental design choices, corporate tug-of-wars, and a legacy that basically invented the modern action-adventure genre.
Most people think Lara was always meant to be this untouchable British aristocrat. That’s not quite right.
The Accident That Changed Everything
Back in 1996, a small team at Core Design in Derby, England, was trying to make something new. Toby Gard, the lead animator, originally wanted a male protagonist. His bosses thought that looked too much like Indiana Jones. They were worried about lawsuits. So, Gard pivoted. He started sketching a female lead.
She wasn't even British at first.
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The original concept was a South American woman named Laura Cruz. It was only when the team decided they wanted her to sound more "UK-friendly" that they grabbed a telephone book, looked for names that sounded similar to "Cruz," and landed on Croft.
Then there’s the "breast incident." It’s one of those gaming myths that actually happens to be true. While Gard was adjusting the 3D model, his mouse slipped, increasing Lara’s chest size by 150%. The rest of the team saw it, loved the "marketability," and told him to keep it. Gard wasn't thrilled. He wanted a serious adventurer, not a pin-up. This tension between Lara as a capable hero and Lara as a sex symbol would define the franchise for the next thirty years.
Why the 90s Games Actually Mattered
It’s hard to explain to people now just how clunky games used to be. Before Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, 3D movement was a mess. The 1996 original introduced a grid-based system. Every jump, every grab, and every backflip was calculated. It felt like digital gymnastics.
You weren't just running through a level; you were solving a physical space.
- Verticality: Games used to be flat. Lara made us look up.
- Isolation: There were no sidekicks. No radio chatter. Just you and the sound of Lara’s boots on cold stone.
- The Scion: The plot wasn't complex, but searching for the pieces of an Atlantean artifact across Peru, Greece, and Egypt felt huge.
The Sophie Turner and "Legacy" Era (2026)
We are currently in a massive "Tomb Raider" renaissance. If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, 2026 is basically the year of the Raid. Amazon Prime Video is currently producing a high-budget live-action series starring Sophie Turner as Lara.
It's a big swing.
But for the gamers, the real news is the release of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. This isn't just a remaster; it’s a full Unreal Engine 5 reimagining of the 1996 original. Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog are handling it, and they’ve brought in Alix Wilton Regan to voice Lara. She’s the same voice you might recognize from Cyberpunk 2077 or Dragon Age.
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The goal here is "Unification." For years, the fanbase has been split. You had the "Classic" fans who loved the witty, confident 90s Lara, and the "Survivor" fans who liked the more grounded, vulnerable version from the 2013 reboot. This new era is trying to mash them together. They want the grit of the modern games but the "I-don't-need-your-help" attitude of the original.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Movies
When people talk about Lara Croft: Tomb Raider on film, they usually jump straight to Angelina Jolie. While those movies were hits, they actually struggled to capture what made the games fun. The games were about quiet exploration and "Aha!" moments. The movies were basically James Bond with a braid.
The 2018 Alicia Vikander movie tried to fix this by focusing on the "Survivor" origin story, but it still felt like it was chasing a trend. Fans are hoping the Sophie Turner series finally embraces the weirdness of the lore—we’re talking about a world where Lara fights T-Rexes in hidden valleys and deals with literal gods.
How to Get Into the Series Today
If you’re looking to dive in, you have a few distinct "entry points" depending on what kind of player you are:
- The Purist Route: Grab the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection. It’s got the original tank controls but let’s be real—use the modern control setting. It’s the best way to see the levels that started it all without the headache.
- The Cinematic Route: Start with the 2013 reboot (simply titled Tomb Raider). It plays like an action movie and is very beginner-friendly.
- The 2026 Hype Train: Keep your eyes on Legacy of Atlantis. It’s being designed specifically to be the "definitive" version of Lara’s first adventure for modern hardware.
Honestly, the series has had its ups and downs. Angel of Darkness in 2003 nearly killed the whole brand because it was so buggy. But Lara keeps coming back. She’s survived being buried in an Egyptian pyramid, being disowned by her family, and about five different corporate acquisitions.
She’s a survivor. Literally.
To stay current with the series, you should check out the latest developer diaries from Crystal Dynamics regarding the "Unified Timeline." They are currently detailing how Lara’s iconic dual pistols are returning to the main gameplay loop after being absent for nearly a decade.
If you want to experience the story chronologically in the modern "Survivor" timeline, start with Tomb Raider (2013), follow it with Rise of the Tomb Raider, and finish with Shadow of the Tomb Raider before the new 2026/2027 titles drop.
Next Steps: You can start by downloading the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered on Steam or consoles to see the original level designs before the 2026 remake arrives. This will give you the best perspective on how much the "Legacy of Atlantis" version actually changes when it launches later this year.